Loneliness

Postie45 · Post by **Postie45** » 16 Oct 2018, 16:19

cant wait for xmas pressure. `sorry boss, gonna have to leave half my walk, not only is it really busy, but i promised Mrs Brown we`d have a nice chat and shes making those home made biscuits and tea, ill give you a call from her house and tell you how much im going to bring back`

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 16 Oct 2018, 17:09

Well as expected some replies on here,which do make you wonder the mindset of some people within this company,I do get people’s reservations about this,but it’s unlikely to happen in the real world,the few negative comments do make you wonder how they get through the day at all,they must be a joy to work with,full of good cheer,roll on xmas! Bah humbug!!

robbertwhitton · Post by **robbertwhitton** » 16 Oct 2018, 18:15

Brandy wrote:The postie was the eyes and ears of the old and lonely,and yes I say was and it makes me so bloody angry,sometimes the postie is the only face they see in days and just to have a few words would make their day. During my time as a postie,I came across many situations where someone would need either some kind words of comfort or help,and I just could not walk away,no I am not painting myself as some kind of hero,just a human being,who cared. I really loved my job,and the postie really was a pillar of the community,and I was proud to be one.
Then it all started to change,and if for whatever reason I was late back all I got was grief,I can hear it now "where have you been,that round doesnt take that long,you are not up to the job" etc etc.
Its great to think RM are supposedly thinking of the old and lonely,but somehow I think its just to make them look good,however they want to remember one day they too will be old and perhaps lonely and will be grateful of a few words with their caring postie

Your bang on with your comments,exactly how it was,sadly going but not not altogether gone,the old advert,love letters,we know all our customers by name,mmmm good days indeed

Post by **Altrider** » 16 Oct 2018, 19:00

From the first para of the RM & CWU TERMS OF REFERENCE SAFE & CONNECTED TRIAL

"finding opportunities to replace current traditional letter mail volume"

Yeah, 'cos from what I can see (and chums still in RM tell me) packet volume is still a PIA (+year long lapsing, less staff inept management)

lillywhite · Post by **lillywhite** » 16 Oct 2018, 20:12

Had my 4th visit today and have to say it’s not the time taking nor the inconvenience it’s the fact that my ‘call’ has a series of ongoing problems that are not being resolved and they are getting more and more upset on each visit. I end up being the only person they see face to face. It leaves you feeling really down.

Post by **greengiant** » 16 Oct 2018, 21:46

lillywhite wrote:Had my 4th visit today and have to say it’s not the time taking nor the inconvenience it’s the fact that my ‘call’ has a series of ongoing problems that are not being resolved and they are getting more and more upset on each visit. I end up being the only person they see face to face. It leaves you feeling really down.

And that is what concerns me about this scheme. It's hard enough getting management to order replacement footwear for a postie, I can't see them going out of their way to resolve any issues or at least forward them onto the appropriate care provider..

Robotpostie · Post by **Robotpostie** » 16 Oct 2018, 23:03

What happens if your accused of robbing money or something that's gone missing. Or if a woman says you tried to get her into bed ( lol you never know ) where's the proof you didn't. Shouldn't you be doing something like that in pairs or have a camera on for your own protection.

scoobymunster · Post by **scoobymunster** » 17 Oct 2018, 06:08

Is there any training provided for this? God forbid someone's "call" self harmed or worse, would the postie be in trouble for not picking up the tell tale signs and raising the alarm? We're not trained social workers.

Post by **baldrick** » 17 Oct 2018, 07:21

greengiant wrote:
lillywhite wrote:Had my 4th visit today and have to say it’s not the time taking nor the inconvenience it’s the fact that my ‘call’ has a series of ongoing problems that are not being resolved and they are getting more and more upset on each visit. I end up being the only person they see face to face. It leaves you feeling really down.
And that is what concerns me about this scheme. It's hard enough getting management to order replacement footwear for a postie, I can't see them going out of their way to resolve any issues or at least forward them onto the appropriate care provider..

Even if concerns are forwarded local councils are cutting social services support because of austerity funding cuts of 40% from central government. Councils are struggling to maintain support for core services like child protection. I can't see that they are going to be able to deal with more elderly people referred by RM.
This seems like a fig leaf to make it appear that Government is concerned about the elderly, and it will be posties who are untrained in social care who will bear the emotional burden.

lillywhite · Post by **lillywhite** » 17 Oct 2018, 16:22

You get 3 WTL sessions with the relevant sections of the care providers. You are not allowed to cross the doorstep.

clashcityrocker · Post by **clashcityrocker** » 17 Oct 2018, 16:43

greengiant wrote: It's hard enough getting management to order replacement footwear for a postie, I can't see them going out of their way to resolve any issues or at least forward them onto the appropriate care provider..

Why would your DOM do anything?
You ask the questions and send the responses.
It is then up to them to take the appropriate action.

If for whatever reason you don't want to continue calling at the place then I am guessing there will be a procedure in place for reporting that.
And if there isn't, there should be.

Personally I think this is a poorly thought out scheme.
It reminds me of something else.
How many missing people did we find? Do we still do that?

citypostie · Post by **citypostie** » 17 Oct 2018, 17:15

Seriously can't believe anyone thinks this a good idea, visiting lonley vulnerable people is not the job of a postman!
I've read the ltb and despite it saying you don't cross the threshold and you ask set questions, will it seriously be that easy? What if the day you go they are in a state? You ask your questions and say my 10 minutes is up, I'm off?

Post by **ArthurPewty** » 17 Oct 2018, 17:26

citypostie wrote:Seriously can't believe anyone thinks this a good idea, visiting lonley vulnerable people is not the job of a postman!
I've read the ltb and despite it saying you don't cross the threshold and you ask set questions, will it seriously be that easy? What if the day you go they are in a state? You ask your questions and say my 10 minutes is up, I'm off?

100% agree with you. Asking the same questions every time and buggering off will probably do more harm than good. Any idiot can tell you that what these people need is someone to talk to who can spare the time to listen to them and engage with them. The one thing the modern day postie HASN'T got is time. "Hello,1-2-3-4-5, Bye" is probably counter productive as it makes it look like you are going through the motions and don't actually care less about them. It's a massive can of worms that RM shouldn't have touched with a barge-pole.

Post by **Murdoch** » 17 Oct 2018, 20:41

This is hilarious. I'm sure old dear Betty used to love the fact her postie had time to check in on her, ask how she was.

Well, those days are gone. You can't privatise a public service, track and measure us to within an inch of our lives, pile on more workload, consistently apply the pressure of "efficiency cuts", generally make your staff feel overworked and unrewarded. And then turn around to Betty and say, hey if you pay us 20 quid a month we'll get a postie to check in on you, remember like the good old times, remember Betty, when the postie didn't get pissed off at you if you took a few minutes to come to the door? It'll just be like the good old times. Except the postie will begrudge having to do it, will have to ask stupid prescribed questions listed on the PDA, it will be timed, and at the end, you'll probably have to get a barcode on your forehead scanned.

What a joke.

Betty has probably voted Tory for the last 40 years too.

Robotpostie · Post by **Robotpostie** » 18 Oct 2018, 15:16

Came across these 2 sites,

https://www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2018/04/23/r ... and-check/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And this one in Jersey,

https://www.callandcheck.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It would of been a good idea in the old days, but not now in these private company days when where overloaded with work. What if we get a website like the Jersey one and we end up with loads of calls to make every day. We should have a union vote on this, or let postie volunteers do it. I don't know how big the rounds are in Jersey or if they get lapsing or bullied. What's it got to do with the Dam Tories as well, they sold us so shouldn't be telling us what to do!!!